TORONTO, April 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Queen's University and the Canadian Cancer Society are pleased to announce that Dr Janet Dancey will be the next director of the NCIC Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) effective September 1, 2014.
"I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the NCIC CTG and work with such a dedicated group of people at Queen's, across Canada and around the world," says Dr Dancey. "The NCIC CTG is a world-class cancer clinical trials group, and the results of the trials it conducts are important for cancer patients both today and tomorrow as they lead to advances in cancer care. There is tremendous opportunity to improve outcomes for patients through personalized medicine strategies and to develop new approaches to trial design and execution."
A professor in the Department of Oncology at Queen's, Dr Dancey is known internationally for her expertise in new anticancer drug development, linking drug and biomarker development and clinical trials methodology.
"Cancer research is a cornerstone of research activity at Queen's, and we are delighted to have Janet Dancey as the next director of the NCIC CTG," says Dr Richard Reznick, Dean of Queen's Faculty of Health Sciences. "She is one of this country's most respected oncologists and known internationally in the field of cancer clinical trials. She has an exceptional record of achievement as a scientist. I am confident that her leadership will have a significant impact on the continued success of the NCIC CTG."
"This is a very important leadership position for cancer research in Canada, and we are delighted that Janet has accepted the appointment," says Pamela C. Fralick, President and CEO, Canadian Cancer Society. "She brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of clinical trials to the position, and we anticipate many years of successful collaboration. We look forward to the evolution and growth of the NCIC CTG under Janet's guidance."
After receiving her MD from the University of Ottawa in 1988, Dr Dancey completed her residency training in internal medicine and medical oncology at the University of Toronto. She then did fellowship training with the NCIC CTG and at the Institut Gustave Roussy in France.
Prior to joining the NCIC CTG, she was associate chief of the Investigational Drug Branch in the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program at the US National Cancer Institute where she coordinated the development of over 200 phase I-III trials in experimental therapeutics. She currently divides her time between the NCIC CTG and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR). She is director of Clinical Translational Research at the NCIC CTG, director of the High Impact Clinical Trials Program at OICR, scientific director of the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN), and chair of the Experimental Therapeutics Network at Cancer Care Ontario. She will continue her role with 3CTN.
Queen's University and the Canadian Cancer Society would like to extend their gratitude to Dr Elizabeth Eisenhauer for the tremendous support she has provided by acting as interim director of the NCIC CTG. She will continue in the role until September 1.
About the NCIC Clinical Trials Group
The NCIC Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) is a cancer clinical trials cooperative group that conducts phase I-III trials testing anticancer and supportive therapies across Canada and internationally. It is a national research program of the Canadian Cancer Society. The NCIC CTG's Central Operations and Statistics Office is located at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, in the Queen's University Cancer Research Institute. This national network develops, conducts and analyzes multi-institutional trials of cancer therapy. Over 60 institutions involved in cancer care in Canada participate in NCIC CTG studies. The Group also conducts and participates in international trials in North America, Europe and Australia.
About the Queen's Faculty of Health Sciences
Established by Royal Charter of Queen Victoria in 1841, Queen's University is one of Canada's leading universities, with an international reputation for scholarship, research, social purpose and spirit. The Faculty of Health Sciences comprises 3 schools: medicine, nursing and rehabilitation therapy. The schools deliver undergraduate and postgraduate education programs in medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and biomedical and population sciences to 3,000 learners.
About the Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. Thanks to our donors and volunteers, the Society has the most impact, against the most cancers, in the most communities in Canada. Building on our progress, we are working with Canadians to change cancer forever. For more information, visit cancer.ca or call our toll-free bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333 (TTY 1-866-786-3934).
Image with caption: "Dr Janet Dancey (CNW Group/Canadian Cancer Society (National Office))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140404_C8669_PHOTO_EN_38837.jpg
SOURCE: Canadian Cancer Society (National Office)
Sasha Anopina, Bilingual Communications Specialist, Canadian Cancer Society, [email protected], 416-934-5338; Peter Aitken, Communications Officer, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, [email protected], 613-453-4237
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